Tag Archive: John 15:5

Christians often inadvertently live between two codes in order to live out the life that they believe they should be living. In most of our lives the change from one code to another happens regularly and sometimes unknowingly. You see, in some areas of our lives we are so aware of God’s presence and are so in touch with the Holy Spirit that error is impossible. Yet, in a moment, we can be facing a scenario where we are not so used to being in the Spirit’s presence and despite wanting to do what is right, we easily switch to relying on our own resources and fail.

Often we simply drift away from being aware of our need for the Holy Spirit to our old familiar pattern of relying on ourselves. Depending on who has become the most recent source of thought and action, the Spirit or us, will determine the response to any further provocation to sin. You see, we all want to do what’s right, and doing what is right makes us feel right, but whenever I begin with myself as the source of achieving what’s right, I’m already making the first error. My source is wrong. I presume that I am able to give life into a situation, when at best I can only mimic true life and temporarily hold things together.

Let’s look at the two codes:

Code 1: A standard that I must attain

Code 2: Jesus in me

Code 1: A demand

Code 2: A response

Code 1: A struggle

Code 2: A rest

Code 1: My apparent success

Code 2: My weakness embraced

Code 1: Ultimate failure

Code 2: Guaranteed success

Code 1: Disillusionment

Code 2: Impressed by His grace

Whenever we fail as a Christian, whether it’s intentional sin or not, it’s always because our source has been wrong. Whether you have simply given in to the passions of the flesh or whether you have attempted in your own strength not to give in (and maybe even succeeded not to sin), it’s one and the same problem. You see, although the second seems nobler, either way you have made yourself the source and have usurped God’s place. The cycle will repeat until we exchange our strength for His. It is in repenting of this, our chief sin, and turning toward Jesus as our life (and by his grace staying turned) that we really begin to live.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).